By Paul Brinkmann, Orlando Sentinel

The ambitious high-tech research project near Kissimmee, known as BRIDG, held its official opening Thursday morning.

The hope for the project is that it will eventually attract thousands of high-paying tech jobs to an area known more for budget motels near Disney World. BRIDG is moving into its brand new 109,000-square-foot facility, the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center, on the former Judge Farms property.

The facility is aimed at developing new advanced semiconductor designs for microelectronics, nano-electronics, sensors, fiber optics and photonics. Its design center will seek new electronics ideas and help make them a reality.

The project was guided by University of Central Florida and other universities, the High Tech Corridor and other private parties. UCF has been helping BRIDG pursue federal contracts that would build sensors and other photonics technology at the facility.

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